[2026 Latest] What You Can Consult About and How to Utilize the Business Succession and Takeover Support Center | Complete Guide
Supervised by: M&A Specialist Advisor Aldea M&A Advisory Co., Ltd.
Last Updated: April 2026
"I don't know who to consult with." This is the first hurdle for business owners who have started considering business succession and M&A. In this article, we provide a complete guide on how to fully utilize the "Business Succession and Takeover Support Center," a free consultation service established by the government.
What you will learn in this article
What the Business Succession and Takeover Support Center is (establishment purpose and operational structure)
Consultation content and process (succession within the family, M&A, and successor bank)
Differences from private M&A brokerage firms and how to use them appropriately
List of contact information for centers in all 47 prefectures (how to access)
Tips and precautions for maximizing the use of the center
What is the Business Succession and Takeover Support Center?
The Business Succession and Takeover Support Center (formerly: Business Takeover Support Center) is a public consultation service established in all 47 prefectures as a project commissioned by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency.
Operations are handled by chambers of commerce, foundations, and SME support organizations in each prefecture, and all consultations are, in principle, free and strictly confidential. As a neutral organization with no incentives related to sales or orders, it provides support from the perspective of the business owner.
Background of establishment
Even as of 2026, following the "2025 Problem" (the milestone when the baby boomer generation reaches the age of 75), the issue of a lack of successors for SMEs remains serious. According to the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, the number of M&A deals concluded through centers in all 47 prefectures has surged from 102 in fiscal year 2014 to 1,681 in fiscal year 2022 (an approximately 16-fold increase), and the presence of public support is growing year by year.
What you can consult about at the center
Consultation 1: Comprehensive business succession consultation (for those who don't know where to start)
You can consult even with vague concerns such as "I don't have a successor, what should I do?" or "Please tell me how to proceed with business succession." The center's staff (coordinators) will organize your current situation and advise on the direction you should take.
It is also possible to receive support for formulating a business succession plan through the dispatch of experts (tax accountants, lawyers, SME management consultants, etc.).
Consultation 2: Support for succession within the family or to employees
If you are considering succession to your children or employees, you can receive the following support:
Support for formulating a business succession plan
Advice on stock valuation and transfer methods
Confirmation of the schedule for successor development
Provision of information on how to utilize the business succession tax system (deferral system for gift tax and inheritance tax)
Consultation 3: M&A with a third party (matching support)
If you cannot find a successor, you can receive the following support regarding third-party succession (company sale) through M&A.
Support for registering and organizing information on companies wishing to sell
Appropriate referrals to private M&A intermediary agencies
Matching with entrepreneurs through the 'Successor Bank'
Provision of information on the M&A process and advice on how to proceed
Consultation 4: Consultation as a buyer (wishing to take over)
Companies and individuals who are considering acquiring or taking over a business can also consult. You can access information on seller companies registered with the center and receive matching support.
Differences between the Center and private M&A intermediary companies
Key points for choosing between them:
If you don't know what to do first → Go to the Center
If you want to proceed with a sale concretely or aim for an early closing → Go to a private intermediary company
It is also possible to be introduced to a private intermediary company after consulting with the Center
Many centers collaborate with private M&A support agencies, and the route of 'confirming direction at the center -> transitioning to a private agency' is effective in practice.
What is the Successor Bank?
The 'Successor Bank (Successor Human Resources Bank)' operated by the Business Succession and Takeover Support Center is a system that matches companies without successors with individuals who wish to start a business or become independent.
Benefits for sellers (transferors):
Supports smaller takeover cases than M&A (available to small businesses and sole proprietors)
Possibility of passing on the business to individuals with a strong desire to start a business
Provides peace of mind as the center acts as an intermediary
Benefits for buyers (entrepreneurs):
Can start a business by taking over existing operations, customers, and facilities rather than starting from scratch
Possibility of becoming a business owner with a smaller investment than M&A
Actual process for utilizing the center
Step 1: Book an initial consultation via phone, email, or visit Apply for a consultation at your local prefectural center by phone or via the web form. Offices are generally open on weekdays from 9:00 to 17:30.
Step 2: Initial interview (free and strictly confidential) Conduct a 1-2 hour individual interview with a coordinator. They will ask about your company's situation, the presence of a successor, and your desired direction.
Step 3: Confirmation of direction and support for plan formulation
Succession within family/employees → Support for formulating a business succession plan and dispatching experts
If M&A is desired → Organizing registration information and connecting with private intermediary agencies
Step 4: Matching and negotiation support Support for successor banks, M&A matching, and coordination with experts will be provided.
Step 5: Closing and follow-up after takeover You can receive PMI (Post-Merger Integration) support after closing and regular follow-up after the takeover.
How to access the center
You can access the Business Succession and Takeover Support Center in each prefecture using the following methods.
1. Small and Medium Enterprise Agency's Business Succession and Takeover Portal Site https://shoukei.smrj.go.jp/
2. Counters at Chambers of Commerce and Industry/Societies of Commerce and Industry By consulting with your local Chamber of Commerce or Society of Commerce and Industry, you can be introduced to the nearest center or person in charge.
③ Search for the center in each prefecture from the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency website https://www.chusho.meti.go.jp/zaimu/shoukei/
5 Tips for Maximizing Your Use of the Center
Tip 1: Consult from the stage where 'nothing is decided yet' The earlier you consult, the more options you will have. Waiting until 'after specific details are decided' may be too late.
Tip 2: Bring your financial statements and balance sheets Bringing your financial statements for the last three fiscal years to the initial interview will allow you to receive more specific advice.
Tip 3: Organize what you want to consult about in advance It will make the interview go more smoothly if you organize your main points of consultation into a single sentence, such as 'I have no successor,' 'I am considering M&A,' or 'I want to pass on my business to someone.'
Tip 4: Listen to the opinions of multiple experts and organizations We recommend not only listening to the center's opinion but also consulting with private M&A brokerage firms and tax accountants to compare multiple perspectives.
Tip 5: Actively utilize introductions to 'connection points' The center collaborates with private experts and M&A brokerage institutions. If it is determined that 'more specialized support is needed,' actively utilize the collaborating institutions you are introduced to.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Is confidentiality really maintained?
A. Yes. The center operates under the premise of an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement), and the fact that you consulted or the content of your consultation will not be leaked to third parties (business partners, employees, competitors, etc.).
Q. Can I consult even if my company's performance is poor?
A. Of course. Companies with declining performance are exactly the ones that should consult early to expand their options. Even if M&A is difficult, you can receive advice on other options (business closure support, revitalization support).
Q. Can sole proprietors consult as well?
A. Yes, you can. We also support business takeovers for sole proprietors, such as through the use of the Successor Bank.
Q. After consulting with the center, am I required to carry out an M&A or succession?
A. No. It is possible to just consult and end it there. We welcome those who just want to confirm their direction or gather information.
Summary: Consult First, That Alone Will Change Your Future Options
The Business Succession and Takeover Support Center welcomes 'consultations at the stage where nothing is decided.' The opportunity to receive advice from a neutral standpoint in a free, strictly confidential environment is something difficult to obtain from private services.
Business owners who are putting it off by saying 'I'll think about it someday' are the ones who should call their local center right now. Many business owners who have consulted say, 'I wish I had come sooner.'
Related Articles
The information in this article is current as of April 2026. Support details and contact information are subject to change. Please check the official website of the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation for the latest information.
Please feel free to contact us below for free consultations regarding business succession and M&A.